Vito Mannone has paid homage to Sunderland’s backroom staff as he prepares to make his long-awaited return against Notts County tonight.
It was first thought the stopper would be sidelined for three months when he sustained an elbow injury in training, however, following a successful operation and hours of hard work on the training pitch the Italian is raring to go ahead of schedule.
Having not featured since the Black Cats’ opening game of the Premier League season at Manchester City in August, the 28-year-old has told safc.com he is itching the return to the field of play.
“It’s a great feeling and I’m really happy I have completed a number of sessions already so it’s a good feeling,” he said.
“I feel like a goalkeeper again and I have joined up with the team and that’s great.
“I said in the beginning it was a challenge but I really embraced the challenge and enjoyed it,” he continued.
“With the help of the medical staff and everyone involved along with the specialists, it has been a success because I was supposed to come back in three months and I’m back in eight/nine weeks.
“It is important that we are getting bodies back and it’s very important for the young lads because we have put a lot of responsibility on them to step up.
“When you have these bodies around the building and the squad is all together you can push towards better results.”